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Welcome to Our Blog

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you…

September 2, 2020 Cindy Downend & Wendy Vaulton

Getting to know every child as an individual requires intention, observation, and inquiry. The fundamentals of good assessment still apply.

Are You Ready to Listen?

August 31, 2020 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

As literacy coaches, we want to build relationships, empower teachers, and foster collaborative learning environments. So why do we often end up listening to respond instead of listening to understand?

Coaching in Challenging Times

August 26, 2020 Cathy Toll, Lead Consultant, Partnering to Learn, Menasha, WI

Savvy coaches see every interaction as a chance to build trust and “grow” a partnership.

Tags: Coaching

Keys to Assuring a Standardized Comprehension Conversation with the Benchmark Assessment System

August 5, 2020 Irene Fountas, Director

As you use the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System, consider these suggestions.

Tags: Intervention

The Softer Side of School Improvement

July 28, 2020 Wendy Vaulton, Assistant Director of Research

Soft data is a powerhouse for improvement because it gives an authentic, real-time look at what educators and students understand and can do.

Remote Learning: Communicating with Parents & Caregivers

July 22, 2020 Cindy Downend, Assistant Director, Literacy Programs

Communicating clearly and concisely about the supports parents and caregivers can provide to children is key.

Tags: Teaching

Choose Wisely! Qualities and Dispositions of a Literacy Coach & Teacher Leader

July 16, 2020 Cindy Downend, Assistant Director, Literacy Programs

Identifying an educator to train as a literacy coach is among one of the most important decisions a building principal has to make.

Text Levels – Tool or Trouble?

July 9, 2020 Irene Fountas, Director

Highly effective teaching provides a range of opportunities with different texts for different purposes.

Tags: Teaching

Fostering Identity and Community Through Storytelling

July 8, 2020 Courtney Varner, Literacy Trainer

Storytelling is a powerful instructional tool in our classrooms. Storytelling acknowledges students for who they are and provides space for students to share their experiences in the world.

Get to Know Your Students in a Surprising Way

June 15, 2020 Author: Jillian Fountain

With an unpredictable start to the school year ahead, one thing’s for sure: you are preparing for all eventualities and thinking about what you will do to welcome your students.

Upcoming Professional Development

October 6, 2026

Every Conversation Counts: Building Oral Language for Literacy

Build your capacity to intentionally foster children’s oral language development throughout the day. You’ll leave prepared to enrich children’s vocabulary, expand their thinking, facilitate authentic conversations, and create a language-rich classroom that strengthens early literacy outcomes.

$295
November 12-13, 2026

Thinking Beyond the Page: Developing Deep Comprehension

Comprehension is the heart of reading—and it goes far beyond understanding the words on the page. Join us to learn practical ways to help students move from surface-level understanding to deeper analysis, meaningful reflection, and critical thinking about what they read.

$595 (includes professional text)
November 10, 2026

Playful Pathways to Print: Learning About Language, Letters, Sounds and Words

Explore how to turn young children’s love for playing with the sounds of language into meaningful literacy learning during this one-day workshop.

$295

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